HE's CLOSER THAN my NEXT BREATH

[my created image]

I have been on quite the journey these last few days, maybe weeks, or even years. Yet this last week, I am sensing God "closer than my next breath" ... noticing that each and every day, He is revealing His heart and closeness to me personally like I have never experienced in this way. It seems to be like a journey into God's Presence, where He is speaking into from so many places and inviting me to go deeper experiencing more of His Presence, as He consistently shows me that throughout my life, He was and is here - there - everywhere with me, each breath, each step, drawing me to seek and pursue more of Him and more of His heart through His Word, as He brings healing. He is gently awakening an awareness of more thirst and hunger within me, that He placed within me so very many years ago. He is putting the pieces together as He continues to write a complete story of my life, intertwining the tapestry, crossing one part with another, that is taking my very breath away. And it's so intimate and personal that I cannot even begin to express, or put it altogether in an understandable way the intricacies as I reflect and He reveals. As He does this, I come upon so many resources and readings that seem to be written just for me to see and understand. Even my last blog post, the books presented, the change of pace and studies are all preparing and tending to my soul care in such a unique way. It's not a struggle, it's not a battle (yet) but it's so very clear that God is omnipresent as Scripture points out that He's HERE, THERE and EVERYWHERE, all at the same time. This is a series also that the local church has done before, maybe every year but is doing it again because it's the mission that they believe and live out, inviting others to join in and take the next step for their life.

[my created image 6/25]

Once again, I have put aside "The LIE ..." study and now I am setting aside the "Strong in Battle" book for something more peaceful and calm for the summer; but I'm continuing to daily take up, or put on the full armor of God as I declare 5 personal affirmations; and I don't know why, or how I proceed yet it's with the same author as that one for now ... 

He has moved me to "Ponder His Presence" more. 

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Today (which was a few days ago, when this publishes) I woke up, thanked God for the day and my breath as I read the 2nd day of a Bible plan, focusing on RUACH ... until noon. 

I began with this (like this): 

{how I wish this was me, but it is my creation & represents me}

The words are from my reading plan:

the title (on top) and a quote

then the prayer

with the scripture notation of Psalm 46:10

[the tiniest print by the notebook]

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another creation of the same devotion

personalized

from the storm last night

to the application from the devotion

to the same quote with another element added:

"Your breathing right now is proof

that God hasn't abandoned you."

[my created image 6/24]

Drinking in once again:

Breathe

Trust

He's near

And there was so much in-between ... Notes on RUACH & more:

"RUACH already moving"

The pine bending.  The lake resting.  The wind moving.  The Ruach present

RUACH (רוּחַ) is a Hebrew word that translates to "spirit," "wind," or "breath". Used nearly 400 times in the Hebrew Bible, it reflects a deeply physical, ancient understanding of the life-force: the unseen but undeniable energy that gives all living things vitality. The concept of ruach is best understood in three interconnected ways: Breath: The physical act of inhaling and exhaling that sustains life. In Genesis 2:7,   God breathes ruach into Adam to make him a living being. Wind: The invisible, untamable force of the atmosphere. Just as you cannot see the wind but can feel it and see the leaves move, ruach represents God's invisible but active presence. Spirit: The immaterial essence of a human, or God's divine life-force (Ruach Elohim).

The truths that resonated with something I already knew deep down:

• You do not have to earn your worth.
• God's silence is not abandonment.
• Strength is not rigidity.
• The wind can pass through without uprooting you.
• Your next breath is evidence of continuing grace.

I heard these truths in a new FRESH way!

"Peace is not the absence of wind. It is the presence of something deeper than the wind."

I felt comforted, encouraged, seen and drawn CLOSER to God.
RUACH 
already moving
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Then I encountered when I didn't expect it, or go looking for anything more ... many other pertinent resources and research in the afternoon hours and finally the book that I mentioned again, purchased in 2023 for a birthday gift and I am now opening this new treasure, since I had only scratched the surface of the Introduction and maybe the first two chapters and now opening it with FRESH eyes, with a new thirst and hunger for His Presence - with new hopes of reading all 10 chapters before something new touches my spirit by His Spirit. So, now I draw into a sweeter realization of a new REFRESHING of RUACH through a new journey (and book) beyond the pages and into a very personal connection. 

I've been reading Lysa TerKeurst's "Come Close to Jesus" and I feel "He's Closer than my next Breath" - His Spirit alive in me!

On the day, I am writing this, I was on "Blindsided" was the devotion and I guess I was - in a sweet yet powerful way of His Presence delighting me from moment after moment of His healing touch ... "Against the Wind" came to me, out of nowhere, not my genre. So I will be pausing for now in a good place, right before Lysa's Declaration and then her Letter before the next devotion of "Be with Him". I'll still be doing the Declaration, which is "The God who Makes the Sun Rise" with Lamentations 3:22-23 and close off the week with Lysa's letter, as this blog post publishes. And I begin with Him, CLOSER than Your Next Breath (and mine) until July ... one post publishes July 2nd and then after the 4th of July, beginning with a quick sample of Max Lucado's "Seeking after the Heart of God" (the full book is 52 weeks) but the YV plan is just 5 days. 

May His Spirit

BE WITH YOU

🙏

I am NOT

unlovable, or worthless

nor helpless.

I am God's Child

CHOSEN

REDEEMED

Accepted

Secure

Significant

FREE & LOVED

filled by His Holy Spirit

[just keep scrolling to the "bell" shape verses

and "Who I am in Christ"]

Declare daily and break the hold of any lie!

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*NOTE: the the created images are mine, inspired by Jolene Reason from our online group; because this is my new artistic learning that I am thoroughly enjoying doing creations from my readings ... On this day, I discovered a video RUACH Journey, but not sure about that pursuit. There was also a long one in You Version "Uncharted" (70 days) and one for (30 days). I recently took a Character Quiz with "Chosen" - the results matched me up with JOHN, the apostle. [CHOSEN CHARACTER JOURNEY] developed by Jesus (dot) net. They have been sending emails about my character John since I did the Character Test.